Ch VII

Thanks for the reviews! They mean a lot!

Taylor-screenplay, eh? Lol

Ok then, here be chapter seven! Hope you like!

The next morning, Aluka woke after a good night's sleep. After getting dressed in normal clothes, she walked over to Van Helsing's room. She knocked, and when she heard Gabriel say come in, she entered.

He was standing near the bed; with out a shirt on. Aluka gaped. Oh he so works out, she thought. She blushed as he looked at her, noticing that she was staring.

"What?" he asked, not getting it.

"Nothing," she said, although it was clear that 'nothing' didn't cover it.

"Sorry, I'll let you get dressed," she said leaving.

"All guys don't wear their shirt to sleep...," he said , "She needs to get out more."

As she walked dumbstruck back into her room, it made sense that he would sleep with his shirt off. I mean, all guys do, she thought. She was opening her door, when Carl came up the stairs.

"Someone was out late," said Aluka to Carl who hadn't come back to the room to sleep.

"Someone is red as blood," Carl retorted.

"Oh, really? Still?" She rubbed her face like if she did that the redness would go away.

"What happened?" asked Carl suspiciously.

"Nothing," Aluka lied.

Carl opened the door, saw Van Helsing without a shirt, and understood. He smiled evilly as he looked at Aluka, then at Gabriel, then back at Aluka.

"Looks like I'll have to play a little matchmaker then."

"Listen, I don't have feelings for him," she said, not really lying, but not really telling the truth either. She did like him. She just didn't want to get her heart broken if something happened to him on one of his many missions.

Aluka walked into her room, and sat down on her bed. She barely had a moment to think, when Van Helsing, who was now fully dressed, entered.

"We are going to move on," he said.

"Ok," she said, grabbing her few items.

He led the way down the stairs to the tavern and out to the stables. As they saddled up and took off, Aluka remembered that she was supposed to thank Van Helsing for the coat today. Well, thank him properly.

"Van Helsing, I never got to thank you for letting me borrow your coat," she yelled.

"It wasn't a problem," he said.

"You nearly froze yourself!"

"I was fine," he lied. He had actually been quite cold.

She rode her horse right up next to his, and whispered, "You weren't," in his ear before giving him a light kiss on the cheek. She rode off smiling. Carl, for once, had been leading the group, and Aluka rode up next to him.

"What are you smiling about?" he asked, when he saw her expression.

She didn't comment. Carl looked back at Van Helsing, to see him looking slightly stunned yet pleased, and his left hand was touching his check.

Carl smiled. But he didn't smile as big as Aluka.

The rest of the day, Van Helsing seemed to be in a much better mood. He was truly himself for the first time since before Anna had died. The three riders got a lot of distance that day, and knew that if they kept up the pace, that they would probably make it to the place they were staying before nightfall.

Actually, now that she thought about it, Aluka didn't know where they were going to stay. Neither did Gabriel. Only Carl knew.

"Hey, Van Helsing, do you know where we are staying?" asked Aluka.

"No, I don't, but I think that Carl does," he responded, "Carl! Do you know where we are staying?"

"Oh, yes, I forgot to tell you when we started off. We are staying at the Valerious Manor."

"Why there?" asked Van Helsing, with out showing any emotion in his voice.

"When the last of the Valerious died, it was in the will that the manor go to the Holy Order."

"That's odd," commented Gabriel.

"That is, because I have never even heard of the Valerious family. Well, I have, and I know just a bit. I'm pretty sure all of them are dead now, though."

"Yes," said Van Helsing, "All are dead." He sped his mount up and went to lead the group.

"I'm sorry. Did I say something that offended him," asked Aluka, confused.

"It isn't you," explained Carl. "His last assignment was to protect the last of the Valerious family from Dracula..." It went on and Carl explained everything.

"Oh," said Aluka sadly, when it was done. "So that's why Gabriel has been so sullen lately."

"Yes. He isn't quite over it."

"I wouldn't be," she said quietly, never knowing exactly how Van Helsing had defeated Count Dracula.

"I lost my family a year ago," said Aluka sadly. "That's when I came to the Vatican City, looking for a place of safety. I met the cardinal in confession one day, and he took pity on me. Then I came here."

"I'm sorry about your family," said Carl.

"Yeah, thanks. I'm pretty much over it though."

"That's good."

"Yeah."

"Carl, Aluka, we're almost there," said Van Helsing from the front.

"Ok!" yelled Aluka. She sped up to Van Helsing .

"Is it that castle just there?" asked Aluka of Van Helsing, pointing to the Valerious Manor.

"Yes."

"I'll race you there."

"Ok," said Van Helsing, darting off, Aluka close behind him.

"I'm gonna beat you!" yelled Aluka, just inches ahead of Van Helsing.

"You wish," Van Helsing yelled back, smiling and speeding up.

The horses ran as fast as their legs could carry them. First Aluka was in front, then Gabriel, and it went back in forth like that until Aluka got a bit of a lead. Out of nowhere, Van Helsing rode up right next to Aluka.

"How did you get her?" asked Aluka in surprise.

"I have talent."

"Well, you're about to lose to a girl," said Aluka, as the horses ran neck in neck to the finish. Aluka just barely beat Gabriel.

"Damn," he said under his breath.

Aluka smiled.

"Whoa. Is that where we are staying?" asked Aluka, looking up at the Valerious Manor.

"Yep."

That was ch VII! Hope you like! Reviews are good! I shall try and update soon!

the evil platypus of doom